Dream Team member, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Chris Mullin thought Michael Jordan was “insane” when he first saw him play.
“I remember getting to Wichita… 9am practice… kind of tired sitting on the bench… like we’re gonna have a little walk through. This guy was out there, grabbed the basketball, going up and down full court by himself, dunking and running. I’m like ‘whoa, what is this guy doing?’ Like this is kind of insane, the athleticism and early in the morning. And that was Michael,” Mullin explained in the 1,000th episode of the “I Am Rapaport: Stereo Podcast,” presented by iHeartPodcasts and hosted by actor and director Michael Rapaport.
Playing With Jordan and Magic in the Dream Team
Mullin also talked about Jordan and Magic Johnson getting verbal and physical during closed gym practice with the Dream Team.
“Everybody was really secure in who they were. Their careers were established, no one was trying to build a brand. It was just a team… The coolest thing was we became a team like that. And the reason for that was because everyone understood their role… Sounds simple… we’ve seen other teams not be able to do that,” Mullin remembered.
“Chuck Daly… calls a practice in the morning after everyone has been out… divides the team up, wants to get that edge going… he splits Michael and Magic… now Michael and Magic going at it, verbally, physically and really getting after it. That was one of the coolest closed gyms I’ve ever been in my life. Karl going against Charles. Michael vs Magic. David and Patrick… I was probably with Scottie.”
Jordan and Magic Are Good Friends
Johnson revealed that Jordan hugged him after the Bulls won their first NBA Championship in 1991. Jordan was so happy that he cried. Johnson shared that it was a special moment for both of them.
“When they beat us, we met in between both locker rooms and he just put his arms and just started crying. He was so happy that he had won, that he busted through. That was a special moment for him and myself,” Johnson said.
Jordan and Magic became close friends over the years. Johnson has often called Jordan the best NBA player and entertainer of all time, and they went out with their wives to celebrate Jordan’s 60th birthday.
“For me? Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and Beyoncé are the three greatest entertainers of my lifetime; and you could probably throw Muhammad Ali in there.” Johnson added.
